Man That Ploughed Into LFC Victory Parade Described as ‘In a Rage’, Court Hears.
An ex- Royal Marines Commando was a “person consumed by fury” as he drove into dozens of LFC supporters at a championship celebration, in what many feared was a act of terrorism, according to court proceedings.
“The footage was profoundly upsetting.”
Victims in the incident wept while video from the car’s camera depicted people being thrown into the air as he accelerated into crowds while screaming: “Fucking hell, move!”
The 54-year-old defendant is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty at the start of his trial last month to 31 offences involving 29 victims, including eight minors.
‘Consumed by Anger’
The prosecution warned those in court that the video evidence from the defendant’s large people carrier was “extremely graphic”. It showed the parent yelling “expletives” and “move out of the way” while he headed straight for hundreds of fans, some pulling children out of the way as his car horn blared.
The court was told that Doyle acted as a “individual whose anger whose anger had completely taken hold of him” as he continued driving into the mass of people, accelerating as people collided with his car.
Scale of the Carnage
Overall, the ex-marine injured 134 people within a mere seven-minute span – including more than 50 who needed hospital treatment. A six-month-old boy was “remarkably” unharmed despite being left splayed on the road when Doyle’s car hit his pram, according to testimony.
One fan, Simon Nash, was seen being launched into the air by the car, sustaining a laceration on his head, rib fractures and numerous scrapes.
Doyle could be heard shouting “fuck’s sake move! Get out my fucking way!” before ploughing further into screaming supporters, among them an older woman and young children who were dragged under the car.
Scene of Jubilation Turns to Horror
Addressing a packed courtroom, the prosecution said approximately a million individuals were present at “an event they believed to be a day of joyfulness” marking Liverpool winning their 20th league title. Scenes of jubilation turned to “horror”, the prosecutor said, as Doyle drove into oncoming fans as he attempted to pick up a friend who had been at the parade.
“Some at the scene believed what was taking place was a terrorist attack.”
Brave Intervention Stops Driver
With injured people on the street, Doyle’s rampage was stopped by an ex-army member, Dan Barr, who entered the back of the car and forced the gearstick into park. Despite this, Doyle kept his foot on the accelerator, the court heard.
In his police interview, Doyle claimed he acted in a “state of sheer panic” due to a fear for his safety. Yet, the prosecution argued that the video demonstrated Doyle “just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to”. The prosecutor added: “In a rage, he targeted the crowd and in doing so he intended to cause them serious harm.”
Reckless Behavior Before the Attack
Footage indicated the driver had been driving dangerously before he reached the city centre, overtaking cars dangerously and jumping red lights. He disregarded road closures and weaved around other cars, even emergency service vehicles, as he entered the crowds.
The defendant is understood to be facing a jail term of more than 10 years at his sentencing hearing.